The police are in pursuit of the runaway.
Source: tatoeba (238204)
Runaway
/ˈɹʌnəweɪ/
Synonyms for "runaway" (78 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (16)
Strong matches (23)
Related words (39)
looseon the lamon the looseout ofoverwhelmingpushoverrampantrefugeerenegaderomproutrunagatescot freescot-freesetupskedaddlerstateless persontriumphtruantunchecked
Show 9 more words
Noun(10 words)
out-of-control objectrompshoo-inskedaddlinguncontrolleduncontrolled machineuncontrolled vehicleunmanaged deviceunrestrainedwalkaway
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: fugitive, absconder, absconder, absconding, at large.
- Sentence evidence is available for runaway, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "runaway".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "runaway"
Keep "runaway" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "runaway" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "runaway", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "runaway" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
14 entriesMore specific
14 entriesCollocations
11 entriesrunaway briderunaway carrunaway childrunaway demandrunaway growthrunaway inflationrunaway marketrunaway price increasesrunaway successrunaway trainrunaway youth
Inflections
3 entriessimilar
1 entriesTranslations
26 translations across 10 languages.
Bengali
1 entries- ফেরার adj (having run away)
Bulgarian
1 entries- избягал adj (having run away)
Finnish
2 entries- karannut adj (having run away)
- karannut juna noun (a train that is out of control)
German
4 entries- davongelaufen adj (having run away)
- davongerannt adj (having run away)
- entlaufen adj (having run away)
- weggerannt adj (having run away)
Hungarian
3 entries- elszökött adj (having run away)
- szökésben lévő adj (having run away)
- szökött adj (having run away)
Italian
4 entries- fuggito adj (having run away)
- scappato adj (having run away)
- sfuggito adj (having run away)
- fuori controllo noun (a train that is out of control)
Latin
1 entries- fugitīvus adj (having run away)
Polish
2 entries- uciekający adj (having run away)
- niekontrolowany pociąg noun (a train that is out of control)
Portuguese
4 entries- fugido adj (having run away)
- fugitivo adj (having run away)
- desgarrado noun (a train that is out of control)
- desgovernado noun (a train that is out of control)
Romanian
1 entries- scăpat de sub control noun (a train that is out of control)
Sample sentences
33 total sentences available.
A hunt is on for the runaway.
Source: tatoeba (276079)
Zeal without knowledge is a runaway horse.
Source: tatoeba (277038)
My boss has been trumpeting the virtues of yet another runaway bestselling managerial strategy guide.
Source: tatoeba (871859)
Showing 4 of 33 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "runaway"?
Closest matches include fugitive, absconder, absconder, absconding, at large.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "runaway"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.